By Humeyra Pamuk
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and China’s top diplomat Wang Yi reconvened for a second day of meetings on Friday as the two rival powers discuss how to manage differences while laying groundwork for an expected summit between President Joe Biden and his counterpart Xi Jinping.
Wang arrived at the State Department late on Thursday and held a meeting with Blinken followed by a dinner. The two diplomats engaged again on Friday morning, sitting across from each other at a wide table with their senior aides before journalists were ushered out of the closed-door meeting.
Wang is set to head to the White House and meet with U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan later on Friday. He is also expected to speak with Biden, although it is unclear how substantial their interaction will be.
Wang’s three-day visit is the latest in a flurry of diplomatic engagements between China and the U.S., and the trip primarily is to prepare for an expected Xi-Biden summit in November on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders meeting in San Francisco. China has yet to announce whether Xi will attend.
The Israel-Hamas conflict has added a fresh dynamic to the testy relationship between the superpowers, and Washington is hoping Beijing can use its influence with Iran to prevent an escalation into a wider war in the Middle East.
During their meeting on Thursday, Wang emphasized the need for “in-depth” and “comprehensive” dialogue between the two nations to reduce misunderstandings and stabilize ties. He expressed that it is not only important to resume dialogue but also to ensure that it is thorough and covers all relevant issues.
The primary focus of the Biden administration in its dealings with China has been to prevent tensions and disagreements on various topics, such as trade, Taiwan, human rights, and the South China Sea, from escalating into conflicts. Both countries have expressed a desire to find areas of cooperation, and while China’s President Xi mentioned willingness to collaborate on global challenges, experts believe that immediate progress is unlikely.
Wang’s visit and the ongoing dialogues between China and the U.S. are crucial steps towards reducing tensions and fostering a more stable relationship. The outcome of these discussions will lay the groundwork for a potential summit between President Biden and President Xi in November. This summit is expected to take place during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders meeting in San Francisco, although China has not yet confirmed President Xi’s attendance.
These diplomatic engagements are occurring amidst the Israel-Hamas conflict, which has further complicated the dynamics between China and the U.S. Washington is looking towards Beijing to leverage its influence with Iran in order to prevent the situation from escalating into a broader conflict in the Middle East.
Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk and Michael Martina; editing by Jonathan Oatis
